Fresh controversy over Justice KM Joseph; blame-game over 'deliberately lowering down his seniority'

As per sources, Supreme Court judges, including new members of collegium are likely to meet Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Monday to express unhappiness over centre’s decision. Some members from SC Bar Association are also likely to raise the issue.

New Delhi: After a long tug-of-war between judiciary and government; Centre finally issued a notification to escalate Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph to the post of a Supreme Court judge. But, the same has left several judges of the apex court, including the members of collegiums unhappy over center’s decision to lower down his seniority, as compared to that of two other judges, by putting his name in serial number 3 in the notification. As per sources, Supreme Court judges, including new members of collegium are likely to meet Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Monday to express unhappiness over centre’s decision. Some members from SC Bar Association are also likely to raise the issue. The sources say that request will be made to CJI Misra to take measure before oath taking ceremony, which is set to take place on Tuesday. There was a tussle between the five-member collegium headed by the CJI and the Centre over the elevation of Justice Joseph to the apex court. Justice Joseph, the chief justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, had headed a bench, which had quashed the imposition of President's Rule in the state in 2016. Uttarakhand was then under the Congress rule. The collegium had, on January 10, recommended the name of Justice Joseph, along with that of senior advocate Indu Malhotra, for elevation to the apex court. However, the government had returned Justice Joseph's name for reconsideration and gone ahead with the appointment of Justice Malhotra. The August 4 appointment notification has placed Justice Joseph after Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Vineet Saran. The warrants of appointment of the three judges were signed by the President on August 3.